Cycle Repairing and Adjusting
With a Chapter on building a Bicycle from a Set of Parts

CYCLE ENAMELLING AND PLATING 75 all inequalities are removed, using a piece of old alpaca for the purpose. Take care that the corners and edges of the lugs are not rubbed bare, or the parts will show up brown after the finishing coat ; also remove all dust from the rubbing-down process. The smoother the surface is pre- pared by this rubbing-down process the higher will be the finish of the last coat. It can be over-done by using too much pumice or exerting too great a pressure, thus rubbing through the enamel to the bare steel in places, which are likely to show up brown when finished. Two coats are generally employed in finishing, though on first-class work, and work that is to be hand-polished, three coats are sometimes given, one with first-coating enamel and two with second or finishing enamel. Proceed in the same manner as in the first-coating, taking special care to cover all parts evenly, and to remove any brush hairs or dust specks before hanging the work in the stove. Stove at about the same heat for one and a quarter to one and a half hours. If the foregoing instructions have been carefully observed, the work should come out fairly smooth with a high finish. The glass-like surface, however, seen on high- grade cycles, absolutely free from any speck on the enamel, can only be obtained by hand-polishing after the finishing coat. This is done by rubbing down lightly any inequalities with pumice powder and water, which is thoroughly washed off. The surface is then polished with powdered black rotten-stone and water, which is finally worked off with the bare hand until a high degree of polish is ob- tained. an old piece of silk being used for finishing off.